Page 46 of Deception & Daylight (Oak Ridge #3)

Mags

? Nonsense - Sabrina Carpenter

M y finger hovers over the little paper airplane, the final draft of my manuscript poised for submission. “What are you waiting for?” Miles asks, lurking behind where I’m seated at his kitchen island. “If you don’t do it, I will.”

“What if I missed something? What if it’s not good.

” Miles murmurs encouraging words, telling me how amazing I am, but I can't seem to get out of my own head. Uncertainty rolls through me and I start to second guess everything I’ve written.

Pinching my eyes shut, I inhale a steadying breath.

When the familiar whooshing sound of an email being sent off fills the silence, I open my eyes and panic surges through me.

“What the fuck, Miles?”

“Deep breath baby. You’re an incredible writer. You’ve already been through multiple rounds of edits and Victoria has been singing your praises for weeks. You’re going to drive yourself crazy trying to fix something that isn’t broken.”

My first instinct is to doubt everything he’s telling me, but when I stop to think it over, I realize there’s more than a little truth to his words.

I could change the book a million times over and never be happy with the outcome; that’s just how I’m wired.

Nothing is ever good enough. And maybe there’s a deeper reason behind that.

Maybe I’ve never felt like I’m good enough.

Except, that’s not entirely true. Not anymore.

“Get dressed. I’m taking you out.”

“What if I don’t want to go out?”

“Don’t test me, Maggie Watson. Take your cute ass upstairs and put on one of your sexy little skirts, but leave the panties in your drawer.

You won’t be needing them.” That last sentence is a gruff command, and even if he didn’t tell me what to do with my panties, the ones I’m wearing now are already ruined.

After a quick shower and a lengthy debate over what to wear, Miles comes into the room looking good as hell in a pair of jeans and a light blue henley with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He’s deliberately toying with me, knowing exactly how I feel about forearm porn.

He takes a seat on the edge of the bed, fingers tapping out a text, while I stand in front of the full-length mirror, putting the finishing touches on my hair.

I smooth my hands over my periwinkle silk skirt, second guessing the thigh high slit with no underwear.

“You look fucking edible.” Miles says, placing a gentle kiss behind my ear.

“We better go. The longer we stand here, the more time I have to change my mind and bend you over the bed instead.”

“I think I like that idea better.”

“Later. Everyone is waiting for us at The Ridge.”

The Ridge is surprisingl y busy for a Wednesday night, but it doesn’t take long for me to find our crew at our usual tables just to the right of the stage.

The dull hum of the jukebox is barely audible beneath the boisterous chatter filling the space.

Paige instantly pulls me in for a hug, forcing me to release Miles’ hand, and I’m quickly passed around like a joint at a college frat party until I’m released back to Miles who kisses me thoroughly in front of half the damn town.

Nobody is shocked anymore. They’ve all heard through the grapevine, AKA Rosie Sullivan, that Miles and I are together — if they hadn’t already witnessed it first hand at the auction.

“Spill the beans, babe. What's the next book about?” Cara asks, settling into the seat across from me. Her long red hair is pulled into a high pony, and she’s still wearing her scrubs from her shift in the NICU.

“Please tell me it’s spicy. That one scene in the hot tub from the first book did wonders for my sex life. ”

Dean joins us then, settling into the chair beside her in his usual business casual attire, his hand toying with the end of her ponytail as he leans in for a kiss. “I wasn’t aware you had any complaints before you read the book, Daze.”

“No complaints. But you have to admit, we had a little extra fun after chapter fifteen.”

“You’re welcome.” I reach out a hand for a high five, which Cara returns with enthusiasm. “Book two is definitely higher on the spice scale. You can thank me when you finish chapter 22. Or when chapter 22 finishes you.”

Cara snorts into her drink at my innuendo, and the whole table erupts into laughter.

“You can thank me, too.” Miles adds with a wink and a cocky grin thrown my way. His hand climbs up my thigh, getting dangerously close to where he’ll be able to confirm whether or not I followed his orders.

“What makes you think you had anything to do with Chapter 22?” I ask, knowing it’s almost identical to our quickie in the alleyway.

I haven’t let Miles read any of the book yet, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous.

To the world, it’ll look like any other enemies to lovers romance book.

To Miles, and maybe even some of our friends, it’ll lay bare everything we’ve been through.

And maybe that’s why I was weary of sending off the final draft this morning.

I can’t take back what I wrote, and before long, Miles will know exactly how I feel about him.

An hour later, I’m three drinks deep and feeling damn good. Miles is leaned up against the bar, whiskey in hand, watching me and Paige bounce around the dance floor. His gaze is heated, and it only serves as a reminder that I’m not wearing anything under my skirt.

“You’ve got it bad, bestie,” Paige says, pulling me in for a quick hug as we continue to sway to a Shania Twain song. “You’re good for each other.”

“It won’t last,” I admit. “But at least I got a book out of it.”

Paige stops dead in her tracks, brows drawn together as she tugs me to one of the high top tables. “What are you talking about? That man is obsessed with you.”

“This was always going to be temporary.” What I really mean to say is I’m always going to be temporary.

I’ve never in my life had someone choose me.

My mother might have but she was never given the chance, and my dad will always put his money and his legacy ahead of me.

Even Paige, though I love her to death, the first chance she had, she left me behind in Toronto.

Don’t get me wrong, I am so fucking happy for her.

She deserves everything good in this world and I will never begrudge her for it.

She glances over my shoulder and back, likely checking where Miles is before we continue the conversation. “Have you asked him how he feels?”

“I don’t have to. I know the deal.” My tone is apathetic, but inside I’m crumbling.

There’s no longer anything keeping me here.

Lucy is back to running the inn, Patty found a new temp for the gazette, and my finished manuscript has been turned in.

I’m all out of excuses. All that’s left is for me to figure out where to go next.

“I don’t understand. You’re practically living together. He hasn’t stopped watching you since the moment you walked in here tonight. That, right there, is a man in love. Maybe he hasn’t said the words, but does he have to?”

I open my mouth to speak, preparing to deny each accusation, but it tastes like ash on my tongue, and my scattered thoughts evaporate the minute I sense his presence behind me.

His arms wrap around my waist and I instantly melt into his hold.

“Yeah. That’s what I thought,” Paige says, her voice full of smug amusement. “Go dance with your girl, Barlow.”

Miles

“Can I have this dance, m’lady?” She laughs and the sound lights my soul on fire. I turn her to face me, swaying us gently to the faint hum of the jukebox. She feels perfect in my arms, like she was always meant to be there, and it kills me to know she could decide to leave at any moment.

In a desperate attempt to distract myself from that thought, I pull her body closer to mine and bring my lips to her ear. “Should we find out if you followed my instructions?” I whisper, trailing one hand up the slit in her skirt.

I hear a sharp intake of breath as my fingers reach their mark, confirming she did exactly as she was told.

“That’s my good fucking girl.” The whispered words are gruff — hungry.

“Do you know how hard I’ve been all fucking night, wondering if you were bare beneath your skirt for me?

I knew you would be. Knew you’d want this just as much as I do — to know that I can take you anywhere at any time.

You’r e mine to do with as I please, aren't you baby?”

She shivers in my arms, telling me exactly how much she’s affected by my words.

As much as the thought of us getting caught turns me on, I don’t want anyone seeing my girl like this, so I discreetly remove my hand.

Lacing our fingers, I tug her down the hallway towards Cade’s office, locking the door behind us.

With any luck, Paige will be keeping him busy long enough for me to give my girl exactly what she’s craving.

Mags enjoys giving up control as much as I like to take it — she’s my perfect fucking match.

She squeaks when I quickly lift her up and deposit her on the edge of the desk. “Don’t move.”

I walk around the desk, opening the bottom drawer where I know Cade keeps a bottle of his favorite whiskey.

Her expression is full of want as her eyes track my movements.

Placing the bottle beside her hip, I trail my hands up her thighs, spreading her legs enough for me to step between them lining her up exactly where I want her when I take her on this desk.

But first, I pop the top off the bottle of whiskey, grasping her neck possessively with my other hand as I use my thumb to tilt her head back. “Open.”

She instantly obeys, opening her mouth wide, her hooded eyes fixed on my face with unadulterated want in her dark irises. Lifting the bottle to my lips, I take a generous pull of the cool amber liquid, then tilt my head down, spitting it into her mouth. “Swallow.”

I feel her throat bob beneath my palm, her chest heaving as she continues to stare into my soul, waiting on bated breath for my next command. Taking one more swig of the alcohol, I bring our lips together in a bruising kiss. She tastes like whiskey and mine.

She moans into my mouth, her hands frantically working at my belt.

I take in her disheveled appearance and her flushed cheeks — she’s so goddamn beautiful.

When she stru ggles to get my zipper down, I take over, pushing down my jeans and boxers to free the erection that’s been plaguing me all fucking night. “Take it, baby girl. It’s all yours.”

Not breaking eye contact, she spits into the palm of her hand and I damn near combust on the spot before she’s even touched me.

I release a guttural groan as her fist wraps around my length, stroking me roughly, just the way I like it.

Not wasting any time, I bunch her skirt up around her hips, taking care not to tear the fabric.

My fingers glide through her soaked center, dipping inside before returning to circle her clit.

Our lips collide in a messy kiss, hands working each other into a frenzy until I can’t take it anymore.

With both hands on her hips, I tug her ass to the edge and her hands release me to catch herself before she crashes backwards.

With both of her hands now braced on the desk, I line us up and plunge forward to the hilt.

She lets out a strangled moan when I pull back and repeat the motion.

Her cries and pants aren’t the only sound filling the quiet office as our bodies collide in a chorus of filthy noises.

“Feel that?” I thrust harder, sinking so deep she’ll still feel me tomorrow. “That’s what it feels like to own a man, body and soul. I belong to you just as much as you belong to me. Say it, Mags.”

“I’m yours.”

“No. Not that. You know what I want to hear. Say it.”

“You’re mine.”

“That’s right, baby girl. I’m yours. We’re done fucking pretending.”

“Yes. God. I’m gonna come. Make me come, Miles.”

Our foreheads collide as I grip the back of her neck, bringing the other hand between us to circle her clit with my thumb. After a few rough strokes, I feel her clenching around my cock, her thighs convulsing as she falls apart bene ath me. “You’re so fucking beautiful when you come for me.”

Her arms wrap tightly around my neck as she comes down from her high, I continue my assault, drawing out her orgasm with each rough thrust until I follow her into oblivion, filling her with my release.

I bring her to my chest with a palm on the back of her head, my heartbeat slowing its frantic pace as we suck in ragged breaths.

Some time later, a knock at the door pulls us out of our sex drunk haze.

I help Maggie clean herself up, swiping my thumbs under her eyes to fix the mascara smudges, but there’s not much I can do for the state of her hair.

She’s a fucking mess, leaving no doubt what just happened.

I open the door to find a very amused looking Paige.

“Just so you know, Cade had to turn up the music to drown out Maggie’s screams.”

I raise my hand for a high five, and Paige returns it with enthusiasm. Eyeing my girl up and down, Paige says, “You might want to go out the back door. And that’s not a euphemism.”

I laugh, pulling a mortified Maggie into my arms. “Let’s go home.”